Tuesday, Aug. 30's Concierge medicine story

Unfortunately, due to space limitations, again, the business page article about Dr. James K. Frost and Frost Family Medicine/Singnature Health and Wellness was heavily edited.
Here it is in its entirety:

The return of Marcus Welby, M.D.

Patient-focused ‘concierge medicine’ makes debut in Bluffton.

BY MARK KREUZWIESER
BLUFFTON TODAY

Dr. James K. Frost is a doctor on a mission, a patient-focused mission.
One of Bluffton’s newest physicians, Frost is hoping “concierge medicine,” a health concept created in Seattle in 1996 and now in 15 states, catches on here.
The main emphasis of Frost’s family practice is old-fashioned, one-on-one patient care and interaction.
The number one reason we have chosen to model our practice this way is to try to ensure our patients live happier, healthier, longer lives,” said Frost, whose office is at 29 Plantation Park, Suite 204.
“I’ve learned through experience that modern medical care has degenerated into cattle-car medicine – ‘move them in, move them out,’ volume, volume, volume,” Frost said.
When he founded Frost Family Medicine in partnership with Signature Health and Wellness in Bluffton in October, he made the obligation to provide his patients with house calls when necessary, 24-hour personal care, same day/next day appointments, minimal waiting room time and accompanying patients to appointments with specialists.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing we offer is a return to that old-fashioned relationship of friendship and trust between patient and physician,” Frost said.
“Nothing is more important than that,” he said. “It gives people a real sense of reassurance and security knowing they have a partner through the process.”
Under the concierge medicine concept, Frost will limit the number of patients on his roll. Rather than trying to keep up with 3,000 to 5,000 patients as many typical practices do, he’ll limit his practice to 600 patients. Once he reaches that limit, he plans to bring more doctors into his practice.
“By raising the level of access, whether through longer appointments (time with the doctor), 24-hour physician access or house calls, patients undoubtedly receive higher level of care,” Frost said.
Concierge medicine membership also keeps patients on regular and comprehensive physicals and other preventative care examinations and tests.
Since most health insurance plans don’t cover annual exams, some folks don’t go to the doctor unless they’re sick.
Frost and his concierge medicine hopes to change that. Patients can pick up the phone and talk to him.
“We consider it to be a direct investment in one’s health and longevity,” Frost said. “No one will know and understand you better than our physicians and our staff.”
Frost will move into a much larger building soon – at 600 Plantation Park - behind his current offices and will have a pharmacy and small gym.
Dee Cook, director of concierge membership, said concierge medicine “takes a very special physician, and Dr. Frost cares deeply about his patients.”
She said there are only about 250 physicians in 15 states who are actively involved in concierge medicine.
“I like to call it ‘Marcus Welby’ medicine,” Cook said. “Dr. Frost never rushes a patient, he seeks out their concerns and is always interested in the total family.”
Frost also is chief of family medicine at Coastal Carolina Medical Center in Hardeeville.
Signature Health and Wellness membership fees are $2,000 for the first person in a family, $1,500 for the second person, and $600 for additional family members, which may include children through age 25, and live-in parents, elder caretaker or nanny.
Frost earned his doctor of medicine from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He completed his residency through the University of Virginia at Lynchburg and served in the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon and family practitioner.
For more information, call Frost Family Medicine/Signature Health and Wellness at 815.5211.

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Excellent story Mark, pity the best part didn't make it out of the lead bucket!

Thank goodness for BT online. Thank you for the story, this is something we want to know more about. We will be checking out Dr. Frost.

The puppies are howling: "Bidness need MOE space! MOOOOOOOOE!"

Frost Family Medicine might could benefit from the services of Dustin Everett's Channel 1 Productions. The charming little video he and Robin Wells made for us at Bluffton Today's Dog Wash has done a lot to let people know who we are and what we're doing at JARM.

Folks only spend a few moments viewing the video, and they know everything important about us. We can't praise Dustin and Robin enough for what they gave us. It is making a difference, we hear about it every day.

The first time mommy put a collar and leash on me I threw myself down flat on the ground and skreeemed for fifteen minutes.

I had her wonderin did she stick a diaper pin in me - no this was a collar and leash on a dog, not a diaper on a baby. Oh I pitched myself a right purple fit I did, til I noticed she'd gone in the house and was readin a book.

She often gets that same book out, the one with the gold edged pages, when she's thinkin bout shootin one of us.

So if she's gonna be readin something in the paper tomorra has ta do with dog training well I guess I'll wander over next door to Miss Mary's for a few days, see how ol Hobo and Chaka been doin. Try soma their horse apples for a change.